Pennsylvania Embracing Wind Power (Wednesday, November 24, 2010)

Rolled down to a local cafe for a hearty breakfast, then across the street to check out OhioPyle Falls. Stunningly beautiful. I can see why so many outdoor enthusiasts gravitate to this little Pennsylvania town.

Spent the day pedaling the trail, first along the beautiful Youghiogheny, then Casselman, Rivers. Feeling strong and ripped off some serious miles this morning.

Near the little town of Garrett, was excited to spy a large wind turbine on the horizon through the trees.

Saw a few more turbines as I came to the town, so headed up a country road in search of the project. The hill was so steep I had to push the trike up part of it, but I was determined to get closer. Pedaled a few miles further and made a good guess on a side road which took me right smack into the middle of the project. Surrounding me were 30 megawatts of wind projects, all I believe developed by Florida Power & Light, including one sited on land reclaimed from a coal strip mine. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Turning around to pedal back down the hill, I was met by a dozen or more turbines a few ridges away. Was graced by a regal-looking hawk alighting on a branch above me as I pedaled towards the project. I’m guessing it was the same one who flew close to me again near the same location on my way back.

About an hour before sunset, rolled into Meyersdale with 49 more miles behind me. Hadn’t run into a single biker all day until one mile outside of Meyersdale, which was kind of nice. There were no campgrounds in town, but lucked out finding an affordable room. Best not to camp tonight anyway, with my core body temperature dropping so low. Riding in the low 40s is comfortable enough, but when you stop, soaked in sweat, your body really feels the cold. A hot shower quickly cured that.

Given the weather forecast for tomorrow (cold and rainy), think I may hole up here for Thanksgiving and spend some time reflecting on everything I’m thankful for in my life. I’m particularly grateful to have a roof over my head tonight. Poked my head out the door just before going to bed and saw the rain had turned to sleet. Definitely sticking around tomorrow.

About My Ride For Renewables

On September 12, 2010, I began biking from Boulder, Colorado to Washington, DC, calling for a modern day, green energy moon shot for America: a 100% U.S. renewable electricity grid by 2020. For the next two+ months, I will be pedaling solo 2,500 miles to Washington, DC on my futuristic, electric-assist “rocket trike.”

It’s time for a new national conversation about our energy future, one I intend to have with everyday Americans I meet on Main Street, America. This ride is about the American people “taking back our power” by demanding a green industrial revolution that will put unemployed Americans back to work, reestablish our role as world economic leader, and help ensure future generations a livable planet.

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2 Comments

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I personally don't see wind turbines as gorgeous, especially if they are not in the process of doing anything. To me they are neither gorgeous nor bad looking, they are only machines that however much needed mar the view of the horizon.

Combined wind, biomass power proposed

(ENN) -- A Lawrence, Kan., man has conceptualized an energy system that combines the power of the wind and the burning of biomass, such as municipal or ag waste. The system, he said, could help remedy climate change woes.
"Such a system could call up solid fuels to back up wind when the wind isn't blowing strongly," said Les Blevins, president of Advanced Alternative Energy Corp.
Blevins has yet to construct the system and will not release complete details of how the system works until he has secured patents for the technology. In 1993, he secured a patent for the biomass portion of the system he calls the Sequential Grates System.
However, he said energy would primarily be generated through wind turbines until the wind begins to drop, at that time system operators would dispatch the biomass burning furnaces to make up the shortfall.
"I'm envisioning a power plant that can take municipal solid waste and turn it into clean energy and return it to the community," he said. Such a system could exceed 80 percent efficiency, compared to just 32 percent efficiency for conventional fossil fuel electricity systems such as coal-fired power plants.
Blevins believes his technology is adaptable for both developing and developed nations. "It is clean, highly efficient, low cost, modular, scalable, expandable and provides waste disposal and energy independence," he said.
According to Blevins, the technology is also applicable in the fight to slow down and prevent climate change. Renewable energies, such as wind power and biomass burning, produce much less, if any, carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide known as the most prevalent greenhouse gas.

That's great, that means there's a least expensive of all other forms of alternative energy. Wind power is also a sustainable source of energy and a clean source of energy. At least I was able to read a different news today. This is good specially that the U.S. is currently struggling to create a balanced spending budget, as is Ireland. Ireland, however, is trying to come back from the verge of complete financial collapse, something of which Prime Minister Cowen and Finance Minister Lenihan are reminded each day. Austerity measures drawn up by Ireland's leaders may be unpopular, but they might be just what Ireland needs. Over the next 4 years, Cowen and Lenihan would like to cut $20 billion to bring the Ireland debt problems under control, writes the BBC.

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Tom Weis is president of Climate Crisis Solutions, a mission-driven environmental consulting firm dedicated to solving the global climate crisis. Active in the wind industry since early 2004 as a public outreach consultant to enXco, Inc.,...